Fuming with Halifax

elektra-2007

:mad::mad:
I have an easy cash account with halifax, and have my wages,tc ect paid in and have dd and standing orders on the account. Yesterday I had 2 payments into my account transfered from my cousins account. And today they have restricted my account. I rang and they said i need to go in to branch with Id so I come out of work and zoomed down there, But it seems Id is not enough they want proof of where this money has come from. I told them why I got the Money (inheritance), But it not good enough they want a letter from my cousins Nationwide.
Now im stuck with no money until I can get this sorted, which means my cousin finding time to go to the Nationwide, get a letter then send it to me. Then me take it into the bank with Id. Im livid im a single parent and now I have no access to my money. This is unbeliavable. The person I spoke to on the phone said it is a goverment thing about money being paid into an account. But my relatives with other banks havent had a problem with amounts of money much larger than mine.
Ive told the halifax once I get the restriction lifted im taking all the money out and moving banks.

voiceofreason

Where will you go?

NGlady

That is rediculous of the Halifax, wont they let you take some money out on giving your ID to help you get by?

MurdochMcMaster

How much money was it? If it was hundreds of thousands then yes, maybe they think you're laundering the Brinks Mat proceeds; if it's less than ten grand then it's really none of their darn business.

oscardog

They keep suspending my online access at the drop of a hat but it resumes after they send an email and the 24hrs "suspension" passes.

elektra-2007

It was 2 x £5000 deposits, it was sent like this because the nationwide wanted £20 to send the transfer or she could send it elecronically in 2 amounts upto this amount for free.
Ive tried showing them id, without the letter there not interested. I livid, if they just suspended the 10k til i proved it i wouldnt mind.
As for another bank ive got another account with the abbey, not used it for years, I checked today and its still open so il just start using that.

tandraig

I dont believe this - a bank suspending an account because there is money going IN!!!!!!

only ever heard of it happening where there is NO money going in!
and i bet they manage to charge you an arm and a leg to sort it out!
in my opinion from previous experience with the Halifax - at least !!!!!! Turpin was honest about it being daylight robbery!

elektra-2007

It gets even more unbelievable im now even More livid (if thats possible!) I just rung up to get the balance on my savings account with Halifax as I have child maintaince paid into this account, and they have suspended this account too as it belongs to me, But none of this money has been paid into this account.
Im really livid, had a row on the phone to halifax. Told them im a single parent what am I suposed to do for money for the next week, the women was appologetic and suggested i get the letter ASAP. I think il get a safe and keep it at home its gota be better than a bank anyday. I used to laugh at old people that kept money under the mattress coz they dont trust banks! Maybe they have a point.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Am I being unreasonable in asking whether the money is from someone with a 'overseas' surname? Because if it is that they are instigating a money laundering investigation on the basis of perceived nationality, I am sure you have grounds to take it a long, long way up into the chain of command, which I would do straight away.

inca_2

Have you asked to speak to a manager? I would go into the branch (don't bother phoning you're much better going in face to face) and don't go anywhere until you get to see the manager. Much as I can totally understand how livid you must be do not shout and swear at them, it will get you nowhere. Be distressed by all means, tell them you have a young child and that you currently have no food in the house because you cannot access your money and therefore cannot afford to feed your child. Ask them to use a bit of common sense, what if the person sending the funds had then gone on holiday/overseas, how long would they justify freezing your account for in that case? Ask them exactly why the account is frozen and point out that if you were laundering money what difference does a letter from the nationwide make as they cannot necessarily verify if the money is part of a money laundering scheme or not, your cousin is hardly likely to inform them of that!! What exactly do they want in the letter and what are they expecting it do verify? It will be perfectly clear to them that the money has come from another bank account so why do they need this verified? What a ridiculous situation, while 10k is alot of money to me, in the grand scheme of things it is not an odd amount of money to get transferred into a current account. People do it all the time when they have fixed rate bonds mature/house sales etc as a short term measure while they sort out somewhere more appropriate for the funds.

elektra-2007

This is exactly what did after my card was refused, I tried to log online, it wouldnt let me so i rang up customer service they said my account was suspended and needed to take id into a branch. I came out of work (for which il prob be told off for today) And zoomed into town, went into branch explained the situation and they then tapped away at the computer. they said ther is nothing i can do the account has been locked and there is a phone number for me to ring, which she did. the guy on the other end (who will only speak to branch and not me!) asked what id had, and where the money has come from, told them inheritance, he asked if ive a solicotors letter, which i replyed no as we did probate ourselves as there wasnt alot of money and no property.He asked if can prove it. I said cant show the will as its logged with courts but Have got paper work about my grans money. asked who put the money in the account and why 2 amounts, so i explained about electronic transfer being free and coming from my cousins account. guy on phone said he wont lift the suspension until get proof where the money has come from i.e a letter from nationwide and bring in id with it. I spoke the women at the bank after the call, and she appologised that she couldnt lift the suspension. She did tell the man I have no access to money but he wasnt interested. After I left the branch I was really upset i rung the helpline again, but again they said there was no one to talk to about it and nothing they could do. When I got back to work I rang the branch and they just said sorry we cant help you need to get the letter ASAP, they just keep saying its a goverment thing. I even asked " where in my terms and conditions of my account does it say you will suspend it if i have money paid in" They said they dont need to put it in the terms and conditions as its guidence from the goverment.
I am going to go back in today at dinner and try speak to someone, and ask if they will accept a fax, then my cousin can ask her bank to fax, they havnet told me what they want in the letter, just proof. i asked what they want in the letter but got the same answer again "proof of where the money came from".

inca wrote: »

Have you asked to speak to a manager? I would go into the branch (don't bother phoning you're much better going in face to face) and don't go anywhere until you get to see the manager. Much as I can totally understand how livid you must be do not shout and swear at them, it will get you nowhere. Be distressed by all means, tell them you have a young child and that you currently have no food in the house because you cannot access your money and therefore cannot afford to feed your child. Ask them to use a bit of common sense, what if the person sending the funds had then gone on holiday/overseas, how long would they justify freezing your account for in that case? Ask them exactly why the account is frozen and point out that if you were laundering money what difference does a letter from the nationwide make as they cannot necessarily verify if the money is part of a money laundering scheme or not, your cousin is hardly likely to inform them of that!! What exactly do they want in the letter and what are they expecting it do verify? It will be perfectly clear to them that the money has come from another bank account so why do they need this verified? What a ridiculous situation, while 10k is alot of money to me, in the grand scheme of things it is not an odd amount of money to get transferred into a current account. People do it all the time when they have fixed rate bonds mature/house sales etc as a short term measure while they sort out somewhere more appropriate for the funds.